Climate Change Melts Arctic Ice and Forms Lake at North Pole

As July is usually the month of fastest ice melt, this year’s lake has been growing steadily since July 13th and is currently about a foot deep. This foot of water comes solely from melted ice (not from sea water seeping up to the surface) and is still separated from the ocean below by the older, thicker ice plates that are less prone to melting. However, the very existence of this lake is dangerous for surrounding areas as water picks up larger amounts of the sun’s radiation than solid ice and can warm surrounding ice plates. Scientists point out that the Arctic is trapped in a vicious cycle as melting ice releases methane into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and, in turn, causes more ice to melt.